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How much trouble would I get into today?

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  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 5, 2016 2:34 PM

tree68
Andrew Falconer

The same people at the dispatching control center that are setting off grade crossing signals at each crossing, even though the train passed through the area over 10 minutes earlier.

As noted by Balt, the dispatcher has nothing to do with the crossing protection.  With PTC, etc., going as it is, it won't be long before dispatchers may be able see a status on a given crossing protection, but an ongoing display on the dispatchers board would contribute to information overload...

PTC - as my carrier is implementing it - does not change the CADS display screens in either signalled or dark territory.  PTC is supposed to be invisible to Dispatchers and it only applies to trains and/or authorities in the field.

In our CSDS system, Dispatchers receive a 'Critical Alarm' whenever the limits of PTC authorities (signal or Track warrent) are breached.

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  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 5, 2016 3:05 PM

BaltACD
PTC - as my carrier is implementing it - does not change the CADS display screens in either signalled or dark territory.  PTC is supposed to be invisible to Dispatchers and it only applies to trains and/or authorities in the field.

Understood.  My point was that it's possible that grade crossing protection may be able to be monitored remotely.  How that information would be used is up for grabs.  

Assuming a negligible rate of false information (ie, virtually no electronic reports of activation failures or false activations), it might be possible to alert the DS of a potential problem (with the possibility of information overload).  Or (and more likely) the notification could go somewhere else (the RR police or other number that gets called by the public) for appropriate action to resolve the problem.

 

LarryWhistling
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